zskot75

Hey, so my car is a 2000 VQ30 5-speed. I wanted to know what are the FWD engine choices that are possible, or have been done to the 5.5 gens. I was thinking of just pulling a VQ35 out of an 02 SE at the scrapyard, I'm assuming it'll be plug, and play, but what are your guys' thoughts. Which comes to the second question, is the manual transmission I have currently for the VQ30 able to be bolted onto the VQ35 if I did the swap? Same I guess would go for the ECU, would that need to be changed as well?

flames101sully

iTrader: (1)

The VQ30 in my opinion is a far superior engine to the 3.5. Not as quick, but a more robust and smooth engine. If you really want added power, do a VQ35 swap from a 2009+ maxima as they seem to be built better. http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/mem...maxima-vq.html

Hopefully someone else chimes in, but I believe others have done a VQ35 swap with keeping the 5 speed. I don't know the specifics on the ECU.

zskot75

In your opinion, why do you say that the VQ30 is a better engine? Is there any aftermarket performance parts for the VQ30? I would love to keep the 30. I was just thinking of switching to the 35 mainly because I've been having trouble finding performance parts for it that would add more horsepower/torque.

flames101sully

iTrader: (1)

My experience with the VQ30 has been very positive. The amount of neglect and lack of oil changes it has had while still running fantastic is impressive. Both in the '98 and the '00. It doesn't burn oil like the VQ35, nor does it have knocking problems, the sensors don't have issues (VQ35 camshaft and crankshaft like to go bad).

It's also a smaller engine and the engine bay is generally easier to work with. Changing the coils and spark plugs does not require the intake manifold collectors to be removed.

I have not looked at performance parts for 3.0. I think there was a supercharger made for it, but that was years ago. I think the reliablity and smoothness of this engine is worth the power loss, and even then the VQ30 is not an underedpowered engine by any means. I don't think there is much support for this engine, It was only in the maxima from 95-01. Shame they stopped making them.

MadMax SE

alot of used 5.5's suffer from precat failure, the vq30 can take so much abuse, i would redline everyday, on 7500-8000 mile oilchange intevals and only lost a quart per change, engine is at 239k

zskot75

That's funny because now that I think about it, I do some "spirited driving" out on the roads every now and then, and the engine seems to handle it all. The only issue I have atm is a leaking transmission due to the rear main seal not being placed in right. I changed out the clutch recently, (it hadn't been changed since 2000) and replaced the rear main seal, but it didn't sit well. Granted it was leaking before which is why I wanted to replace it. Just gonna use thicker oil and some stop leak to ease the leak. So since the VQ30 can take such a beating, why are there no aftermarket performance parts for it? I'm talking not just a turbo, or supercharger (if that's still possible), but I'm talking bigger cams, high volume fuel pumps, bigger fuel injectors, intake manifolds, cylinder heads. You know the typical hp gainers.

schmellyfart

iTrader: (46)

Have a look in the All Motor section of the forum. There is TONS of information on 3.5 swaps.

Enjoy your trip down the rabbit hole